Bracket Attached to a Stainless Steel Anchor For a Compression-Molded Composite Manhole Cover

ABSTRACT

A custom U-Bracket bolted into a threaded, fastening stainless steel expanding anchor affixed to molded-in attachment holes on a compression-molded, thermoset composite manhole cover to attach, house and protect a sensor, transmitter, and battery pack completely surrounded by the composite cover’s structurally reinforcing ribs.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This utility application is related to and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Pat. Application No. 63315538 filed on Mar. 2, 2022, entitled Bracket Attached to a Stainless Steel Anchor For a Compression-Molded Composite Manhole Cover, to common inventor Nunnery.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention generally relates to access points for sewers, commonly called manhole covers.

PROBLEM STATEMENT AND HISTORY Interpretation Considerations

This section describes technical field in detail and discusses problems encountered in the technical field. Therefore, statements in the section are not to be construed as prior art.

Discussion of History of the Problem

Electronic components are increasingly common in manhole covers. However, most electronic components cannot communicate through the manhole cover easily. Further, when coupled to a manhole cover in a manner that makes communications easier, the electronic components are exposed to the environment that makes them vulnerable to damage.

There is no system or devices for manhole covers that overcomes these problems, until the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various aspects of the invention and its embodiment are better understood by referring to the following detailed description. To understand the invention, the detailed description should be read in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a compression-molded, thermoset composite manhole cover having a top and a bottom, the bottom having a plurality of structurally reinforcing ribs.

FIG. 2 illustrates a U-Bracket. bolted into a threaded stainless steel expanding anchor.

FIG. 3 shows the bottom of the manhole cover, focusing on reinforcing ribs.

FIG. 4 illustrates the U-Bracket attached to the manhole cover bottom, and protecting an electronics system.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EXEMPLARY PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Interpretation Considerations

While reading this section (Description of An Exemplary Preferred Embodiment, which describes the exemplary embodiment of the best mode of the invention, hereinafter referred to as “exemplary embodiment”), one should consider the exemplary embodiment as the best mode for practicing the invention during filing of the patent in accordance with the inventor’s belief. As a person with ordinary skills in the art may recognize substantially equivalent structures or substantially equivalent acts to achieve the same results in the same manner, or in a dissimilar manner, the exemplary embodiment should not be interpreted as limiting the invention to one embodiment.

The discussion of a species (or a specific item) invokes the genus (the class of items) to which the species belongs as well as related species in this genus. Similarly, the recitation of a genus invokes the species known in the art. Furthermore, as technology develops, numerous additional alternatives to achieve an aspect of the invention may arise. Such advances are incorporated within their respective genus and should be recognized as being functionally equivalent or structurally equivalent to the aspect shown or described.

A function or an act should be interpreted as incorporating all modes of performing the function or act, unless otherwise explicitly stated. For instance, sheet drying may be performed through dry or wet heat application, or by using microwaves. Therefore, the use of the word “paper drying” invokes “dry heating” or “wet heating” and all other modes of this word and similar words such as “pressure heating”.

Unless explicitly stated otherwise, conjunctive words (such as “or”, “and”, “including”, or “comprising”) should be interpreted in the inclusive and not the exclusive sense.

As will be understood by those of the ordinary skill in the art, various structures and devices are depicted in the block diagram to not obscure the invention. In the following discussion, acts with similar names are performed in similar manners, unless otherwise stated.

The foregoing discussions and definitions are provided for clarification purposes and are not limiting. Words and phrases are to be accorded their ordinary, plain meaning, unless indicated otherwise.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS, A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Introduction

Provided is a custom U-Bracket bolted into a threaded, fastening stainless steel expanding anchor affixed to molded-in attachment holes on a compression-molded, thermoset composite manhole cover to attach, house and protect a sensor, transmitter, and battery pack completely surrounded by the composite cover’s structurally reinforcing ribs.

Simultaneous reference is made to FIGS. 1 - 4 . FIG. 1 illustrates a compression-molded, thermoset composite manhole cover having a top and a bottom, the bottom having a plurality of structurally reinforcing ribs. FIG. 2 illustrates a U-Bracket. The U-Bracket is ideally customized for each manhole cover. The U-Bracket is, in use, bolted into a threaded stainless steel expanding anchor. Depending on the configuration, the U-Bracket may comprise a plurality of threaded attachment portions and its matching manhole cover bottom has at least an equal number of threaded holes. FIG. 3 shows the bottom of the manhole cover, focusing on reinforcing ribs and showing four receiving threaded holes/channels for receiving a U-Bracket. FIG. 4 illustrates an inventive U-Bracket attached to a composite manhole cover bottom, the U-Bracket coupling an electronics system having an electronics system comprising a sensor, a transmitter, and a battery pack to the bottom of the manhole cover. Here, the electronics system is protected by the structurally reinforcing ribs of the bottom of the manhole cover, as well as by the U-Bracket itself.

As an assembly, included is a manhole cover assembly having a compression-molded, thermoset composite manhole cover having a top and a bottom, the bottom having a plurality of structurally reinforcing ribs. Shown is a custom U-Bracket bolted into a threaded stainless steel expanding anchor. The U-Bracket affixed to at least one molded-in attachment hole in the bottom of the manhole cover. The U-Bracket attaches, houses and protects an electronics system comprising a sensor, a transmitter, and a battery pack, and having a manhole-mounting surface, sides, and a manhole-opposed side. The electronics system being surrounded on its sides by the reinforcing ribs.

Shown are special anchors, and attachment holes on the cover. A team may assemble the device with a U-Bracket and an electronics system having a communications device, where the U-Bracket is determined a manhole-type by manhole-type basis so that a transmitter, battery, and sensor, tuck-up into the honeycomb patterned ribs.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated with specific illustrative embodiments, it is not intended that the invention be limited to those illustrative embodiments. Those skilled in the art will recognize that variations and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is intended to include within the invention, all such variations and departures that fall within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof. 

I claim:
 1. A manhole cover assembly, comprising: a compression-molded, thermoset composite manhole cover having a top and a bottom, the bottom having a plurality of structurally reinforcing ribs; a U-Bracket bolted into a threaded stainless steel expanding anchor; the U-Bracket affixed to at least one molded-in attachment hole in the bottom of the manhole cover; the U-Bracket attaches, houses and protects an electronics system comprising a sensor, a transmitter, and a battery pack, and having a manhole-mounting surface, sides, and a manhole-opposed side; and the electronics system being completely surrounded on its sides by the reinforcing ribs. 